Jovian got cleaned up, went out and ate five beef burgers, and only then realized it was the cursed Wednesday.
"Yeah, I'm screwed…"
He glanced at the time on his wristwatch.
He was already thirty minutes late.
Since he was late anyway, Jovian decided to just skip class.
Yeah. He didn't even show up, so calling it "late" was kind of pointless.
He changed into his school clothes and wandered around the city with nothing to do…
Then he timed it so that right before second period started—during the passing break—he walked into the classroom like nothing happened, acting like he hadn't missed a thing.
But the moment the slightly balding teacher stepped in and started lecturing, Jovian immediately regretted it.
He yawned through the whole mind-numbing lesson, and the second the bell rang, he was out the door.
"…"
The teacher frowned at Jovian's retreating back.
"Is my class really that boring?"
Honestly, not being able to keep students engaged felt like a complete failure as a teacher. He started quietly reflecting on what he could improve—he didn't need to be thrilling, but he at least wanted his classroom to hold people's attention.
In the cafeteria, Jovian hauled over three full trays of food and started eating like his life depended on it.
For his build, wiping out three to five people's worth of food in one sitting was totally normal.
The important part was: he could eat like that… and he could fight.
"Jovian!"
"There's no one sitting here, right? Can we?"
Right as Jovian was going to town on his food, he heard someone call his name. He looked up.
A tall, pretty girl with orange-pink hair was standing there—along with a blonde punk girl with a nose ring.
They sat down across from him.
"Sure," Jovian said, giving a small nod as Atom Eve and the unknown blonde punk girl settled in.
"Jovian, I've been really worried about you. You didn't come this morning, and yesterday—"
Eve looked a little worked up, but mid-sentence she seemed to remember something and glanced at the blonde punk girl beside her.
"Okay, okay~"
"I get it. I'm interrupting. You two keep going—I'll bounce."
The blonde punk girl was surprisingly considerate. She looked at Eve with a smile that said, I get it, and also, my kid is finally grown up, then picked up her tray and moved to the next table over.
"Looks like she misunderstood," Jovian said, watching her go.
"Yeah… but I don't really care," he added, then looked back at Eve with a questioning look—like he was asking whether she cared.
"I don't really care either," Eve said, cheeks turning a little pink.
"…"
Jovian looked at Eve and decided he needed to move the "kill Rex" plan up the schedule.
And on top of that, the Guardians of the Globe funeral was coming up…
Jovian figured he'd use the funeral as the perfect chance to dig a pit and toss Rex in too.
Seven people getting buried was a thing. Eight people getting buried was also a thing. This would even save everyone from having to hold another funeral.
God, getting buried alongside the Guardians of the Globe—those "great heroes"—was really doing Rex a favor…
And then, at Rex's grave, Jovian could tell him what the correct way to appreciate Eve actually was—
Ahem. Just kidding.
He was not a pervert. He'd simply be paying respects.
What bad intentions could Jovian possibly have?
"Jovian… when you went through that Spacetime Gate, I was really worried."
"I know you're strong, but the enemy wasn't exactly weak either…"
"And lately the whole world's been a mess. The Guardians of the Globe are missing, and Omni-Man hasn't shown up either…"
"Just now, I saw on the news that something huge happened to the Moon—half of it is gone."
"And the astronomy experts are saying it's a 'normal celestial phenomenon.'"
"Come on. Those idiots really have the nerve."
"I don't know what 'normal' phenomenon makes half the Moon disappear!"
"I know the adults are hiding something. The Moon was definitely destroyed by something."
"And the worst part is… from now on, we'll never see a full moon again."
Eve kept talking, like she was genuinely worried about humanity's future.
"…"
Jovian didn't say anything.
Because what was he supposed to tell her?
Yeah, the Guardians of the Globe are "missing" because they're dead. Yep, I killed them.
Omni-Man hasn't been out lately because he's injured and recovering in a hospital. Yep, I did that too.
And the Moon wasn't destroyed by some unknown threat, and it's definitely not some "normal phenomenon."
It was me. This morning. I didn't control my strength and blew it up.
Instead, Jovian went with the safest option.
"Relax. Everything's going to be fine."
"I have a feeling Omni-Man will be back in the sky soon, protecting Earth from aliens again."
"And as for the Moon…"
"At least werewolves won't transform during the full moon anymore, right? That's a win."
"Ha! I hope you're right."
She let out a quiet breath, like talking to Jovian for a few minutes had made her feel a lot better—like all that pressure in her chest had finally eased.
"Heh…"
Jovian just smiled lightly and kept eating.
"Jovian… are you going to Teen Team headquarters today?"
Eve asked the question almost without thinking. The moment it left her mouth, she regretted it—she didn't even know why she'd asked.
But at the same time…
She kind of wanted him to say yes.
"Sure."
Jovian lifted an eyebrow and nodded.
He didn't really care either way—he had nothing pressing to do.
And more importantly, going to Teen Team meant he'd run into Rex and his big mouth, which meant he might get a clean opportunity to take him out.
"Okay. Then I'll see you after school."
Eve waved at him, picked up her food, and went to sit beside the blonde punk girl at the neighboring table.
"Back already, superstar's rumored girlfriend~"
The blonde punk girl teased, grinning.
"Stop. We're not like that," Eve said, a little helpless.
"Oh, come on."
"You know how many people saw you two leave together after school yesterday?"
"Not bad. I didn't see this coming."
"When did you manage to lock Jovian down?"
The blonde punk girl propped her chin in her hands, staring at Eve with open curiosity.
"You're ridiculous…"
Eve didn't even know how to explain it, so she just lowered her head and ate.
"No, you're the ridiculous one."
"Do you have any idea how many little b*tches in this school are eyeing the seat next to Jovian?"
"He's the high school football team's all-star—the one everyone calls a genius."
"The kind of talent even Tom Brady would notice."
The blonde punk girl went on and on, hyping Jovian up. She was definitely exaggerating, but it still said a lot about Jovian's status in the school.
"Is Jovian really that… amazing?" Eve asked, genuinely shocked.
She'd never paid that much attention to school stuff before. She had no idea Jovian was this "legendary."
And from what Mark had told her, both Mark and Jovian had only recently awakened their powers.
Which meant Jovian had earned all this on his own.
"Not just amazing."
"He's tall, handsome, rich, and going places."
"He's so perfect he barely feels like he's from Earth."
The blonde punk girl cupped her cheeks, staring at Jovian as he ate like she was entranced.
"…"
Eve didn't argue.
Because honestly?
None of that was wrong.
"…"
Jovian, still focused on his food, seemed to feel their attention. He turned his head and flashed them a bright, sunny smile.
He didn't care what Eve or the blonde punk girl thought of him.
He was eating while running his system's cheat in his head—drawing worlds like a gacha.
And in the time it took him to demolish his meal…
He'd already found the world that suited him best.